Volkswagen Golf SportWagen MPG by year — every rating on record
The Volkswagen Golf SportWagen has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 5 model years, from 2015 to 2019. Across those years its best rated version returned 35 mpg (2015) and its thirstiest returned 28 mpg (2015). The EPA record holds 12 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Small Station Wagons.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 4 | 35 mpg | 28 mpg | #3 of 17 (88th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Diesel, Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2016 | 2 | 29 mpg | 28 mpg | #8 of 18 (59th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2017 | 2 | 29 mpg | 28 mpg | #13 of 24 (48th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2018 | 2 | 29 mpg | 28 mpg | #13 of 23 (45th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
| 2019 | 2 | 32 mpg | 31 mpg | #9 of 23 (64th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Station Wagons |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Volkswagen Golf SportWagen placed highest in 2015 at #3 of 17, and lowest in 2017 at #13 of 24. It spent 3 of its 5 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 12 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 27 | 36 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 287 | 7/10 |
| 2019 | 1.4L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 29 | 37 | 32 | 359.4 | 9.3 | $1,950 | 274 | 7/10 |
| 2018 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 24 | 33 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 320 | 6/10 |
| 2018 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 25 | 34 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 310 | 6/10 |
| 2017 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 25 | 35 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 313 | 6/10 |
| 2017 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 25 | 34 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 309 | 7/10 |
| 2016 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 25 | 35 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 313 | 7/10 |
| 2016 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 25 | 34 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 310 | 7/10 |
| 2015 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 25 | 35 | 28 | 410.7 | 10.6 | $2,250 | 313 | 7/10 |
| 2015 | 1.8L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged | 25 | 34 | 29 | 396.6 | 10.3 | $2,150 | 310 | 7/10 |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (AM-S6) Diesel | 2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel | 31 | 40 | 35 | 328.6 | 10.2 | $2,550 | 295 | 8/10 |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Manual 6-spd Diesel | 2.0L 4-cyl, turbocharged, Diesel | 30 | 42 | 35 | 328.6 | 10.2 | $2,550 | 294 | 8/10 |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 → 2016 | 35 → 29 mpg | -6 mpg | 397 gal |
| 2018 → 2019 | 29 → 32 mpg | +3 mpg | 359 gal |
What Golf SportWagen fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2019 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen burns 359 to 371 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,078 | $1,113 | $35 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,258 | $1,298 | $41 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,438 | $1,484 | $46 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2019 model year is $1,950 to $2,000 a year in fuel, or $1,250 less than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Small Station Wagons
Across the 142 nameplates EPA classifies as Small Station Wagons, the median best combined rating is 27 mpg. At 32 mpg the Volkswagen Golf SportWagen is 5 mpg better the median, which is worth about $233 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Small Station Wagons rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Volkswagen nameplates
Every Volkswagen model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.